Driver’s £900 bill for cigarette end littering

A woman has been ordered to pay over £900 for throwing a cigarette end from her car window.

Katie Sharpe was spotted discarding the cigarette end from her car window in Wing Road, Linslade by one of Central Bedfordshire Council’s Environmental Protection Officers in December 2014.

However, when she was contacted by the council about the offence, Ms Sharpe did not respond despite numerous attempts to make contact with her.

Ms Sharpe, of Crancott Close, Houghton Conquest, was given an £80 fixed penalty notice for littering – reduced to £50 if paid within eight days.

Despite reminder letters she failed to pay, leading to the council starting prosecution proceedings.

Miss Sharpe also failed to attend her hearing at Luton Magistrates’ Court on August 25.

In her absence she was fined £400 as well as being ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £40 and the full prosecution costs of £461.33.

Councillor Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Community Services, said: “We want Central Bedfordshire to remain a beautiful place to live and work, which is why we will take action against anyone caught littering - regardless of the quantity of discarded waste.

“Ms Sharpe had ignored several opportunities to settle this in advance either by providing details of the offender, if it was not her, or to pay a fixed penalty charge. She left us with no option but to pursue this matter through the courts.”